The Saint.

Saint Swithun (800AD to 862AD) was noted for his wisdom, piety and care of the poor but he became one of the most powerful Bishops in Saxon England. He was spiritual adviser to King Egbert and tutor to his son, Ethelwulf, who succeeded him.

Saint Swithun was made bishop of Winchester in 852AD. On his death in 862, at his wish, he was buried outside the old cathedral so that the rain and the feet of parishioners would fall on him. Ten years later his remains were moved inside the cathedral. When the new Norman cathedral was built his remains were moved there in 1093AD.

The Church Building

Very little is known of the early history of our church. Domesday record refers to a church at ‘Forde’ – the early name for Bathford.

The dedication to St. Swithun is believed to have taken place in 1323 AD.

The first records found so far start with a book published in 1791 by Collinson on ‘The History of Somerset’. This refers to “an old building some eighty feet by twenty feet consisting of a nave, chancel, porch and tower”.

In 1803 the church needed extra seating and so a South Transept Aisle was added. This had an upper floor with external stairway.

By 1817 the church again needed more seating and the South Aisle was extended to the Tower. Galleries were also added to the West end of the nave and in the new South Aisle.

By 1842 the Tower needed repairs and was rebuilt then.

By 1855 the church again needed more seating and Mr Henry Duncan Skrine proposed to build a North Aisle at his own expense.

In 1865 there was urgent need to extend the church yard. Land was purchased to extend it to the cottages on Pump Lane.

By 1872 the state of the building was such that it was decided to largely rebuild the church. In doing so the South Aisle was extended Eastwards to provide the vicar’s vestry. The roof lost the crenellations and took on today’s shape. The last major reconstruction was the Tower which was completely rebuilt and enlarged. This was completed in time for Michaelmas 1880.

In 1911 Mr Henry Mills Skrine paid for the North Aisle extension, in memory of his father, to create the Lady Chapel.

In 1919 the War memorial and the Lych-Gate were built.

In 1969 the chancel, south transept and organ were severely damaged by arson. A new organ was installed in an organ loft in the tower and the barrel ceiling replaced the open timbered roof in the chancel.